Olympic star Populous to design new Paris stadium

London 2012 Olympic Stadium designer Populous has been appointed to help create the new 82,000-seater France rugby stadium.

The global practice, which has offices in London and nine other cities across the globe, will work with local firm Ateliers 2/3/4 on the Grand Stade FFR.

Located in Evry-Essonne, 25km south of Paris, the stadium will host the national team’s home games as well as other sports and entertainment.

Populous claim the retractable pitch will give France the best quality playing surface of the major rugby playing nations.

A retractable roof will create the largest covered entertainment venue in Europe. Four large video boards will allow broadcasting of replays.

Populous said the architecture echoed a fortified town delivering hospitality and protection.

Ben Vickery, senior principal of Populous, said: ‘We are delighted to have been appointed by the FFR to work on this very prestigious project.

‘The Grand Stade of the Fédération Française de Rugby will be not only the new home of French Rugby, but a cultural catalyst for the district of Essone as well as France.’

Pierre Camou, president of the Fédération Française de Rugby, said: ‘Now we know this garden of French rugby will look like a modern, innovative and multifunctional venue, which can take part fully in the national and international sports landscape.’

In December, AJ reported that Populous had secured a deal to design the Rostov stadium in Russia ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

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